Registered Nurse vs. Dental Hygienist
The short answer
Both are licensed in every state and have similar national median pay, but the education, work settings and exams are completely different.
RNRDH
- What they do
- RNs provide and coordinate patient care, teach patients and the public about health conditions, and support patients and their families.Dental hygienists check patients for oral diseases, provide preventive care and teach patients about oral health.
- Typical entry-level education (BLS)
- Bachelor's degreeAssociate's degree
- Programs
- Associate degree in nursing (ADN); Bachelor of science in nursing (BSN)Dental hygiene programs
- Licensing
- You need a license from the state where you work, which means graduating from an approved program and passing a qualifying exam.Every state requires a license. Most require a degree from an accredited program plus written and clinical exams.
- Licensing exam
- NCLEX-RNSet by your state
- U.S. median pay
- $46.90/hr ($97,550/yr)$47.16/hr ($98,100/yr)
- Projected growth, 2025–35
- +5.6%+8%
- Openings per year
- 180,80015,000
- Interstate compact
- Nurse Licensure Compact (NCSBN)None
Sources
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurse, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dental Hygienist, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Checked against these sources on Oct 1, 2026.